jailbreak
[
jeyl
-breyk]
/ˈdʒeɪlˌbreɪk/
noun
1.
an escape from prison, especially by forcible means.
2.
Digital Technology
.
an instance of gaining access to the operating system of a smartphone, tablet, etc., especially one manufactured by Apple.
a software program or piece of hardware used to accomplish this:
You'll need a jailbreak to run unauthorized apps.
an instance of circumventing restrictions on access to any computer system or digital content.
verb (used with object)
,
jailbroke
[
jeyl
-brohk]
/ˈdʒeɪlˌbroʊk/
(
Show IPA
),
jailbroken
[
jeyl
-broh-k
uh
n]
/ˈdʒeɪlˌbroʊ kən/
(
Show IPA
),
jailbreaking.
3.
Digital Technology.
to gain access to the operating system of (a smartphone, tablet, etc., especially an Apple device), usually in order to run modified or unauthorized software.
Compare
root
1
(def 22a).
verb (used without object)
,
jailbroke
[
jeyl
-brohk]
/ˈdʒeɪlˌbroʊk/
(
Show IPA
),
jailbroken
[
jeyl
-broh-k
uh
n]
/ˈdʒeɪlˌbroʊ kən/
(
Show IPA
),
jailbreaking.
4.
Digital Technology.
to engage in this practice:
Manufacturers are trying to prevent jailbreaking.
Compare
root
1
(def 24).
Origin
1905-10,
Americanism;
jail
+
break
Examples from the web for
jailbreak
What they have always done is close the security holes which allowed people to
jailbreak
their phones in the first place.
British Dictionary definitions for
jailbreak
jailbreak
/
ˈdʒeɪlˌbreɪk
/
noun
1.
Also
gaolbreak.
an escape from jail
Word Origin and History for
jailbreak
n.
also
jail-break
, "prison escape," 1872, perhaps 1828, from
jail
(n.) +
break
(n.).